Experimental Game Dev Interviews — The First Game Dev Podcast Ever
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  • Experimental Gameplay Workshop Founder and Braid Developer Interview…

    Posted on June 11th, 2007 IndieGamePod 1 comment

    Jonathan, founder of the Experimental Gameplay Workshop at GDC and developer of the game Braid talks about game design…

    You can download the podcast here…
    http://www.indiegamepod.com/podcasts/braid-podcast.mp3

    or listen to it here…
    http://www.indiegamepod.com/dewplayer.swf?mp3=http://www.indiegamepod.com/podcasts/braid-podcast.mp3

    Be sure to add your game blog, game site, or indie game to our Indie Game Dev wiki

    Show Notes:
    0:00 – 5:00 Minutes…
    Introduction, Experimental Game Design Workshop Founder

    Started out with simple games and was a hobbyist initially.

    Started out as an indie in 6th grade

    Started own company in 1996

    5:00 – 10:00
    Challenges of starting a company
    Signed with TEN
    Created a mult-player sci-fi game
    Took an extra 1.5 years to finish the game
    Did a sequel for the game

    10:00 – 15:00
    Suggestions for indie game developers…
    take an incremental approach to development. Now you can make a simple game on the web
    and put Google Ads next to it.

    Or can make a simple game and sell it for 5 dollars.

    Had a complex interface for first game, now realize that interface simplicity is important.

    Noticed that another game called Arc that was very simple…was having a lot more success…even though
    our company’s games had better production values.

    15:00 – 20:00
    Mentions how Snood felt like an anamoly.
    Same with Runescape. Does not have high production values, but still very popular

    Started the Experimental Gameplay Workshop at GDC because noticed that there were these
    folks doing interesting experiments with games

    20:00 – 25:00
    Big waves at GDC…
    Mid 90s: Online gaming

    Late 90s: Hollywood in Games

    2004-2006: Mobile Games and MMOs

    Current Wave: MMOs

    Talks about having a “prototype mindset”…a mentality where trying to explore
    and learn things

    Will work on a prototype for 1-2 weeks and then put them away for a while

    25:00 – 30:00
    After puts the prototype away, will come up with more ideas during the away time

    When you prototype, don’t do it when you need to have a successful idea. Prototype when
    you are on another project and doesn’t matter how it comes out. Maybe it will come out
    good or not.

    While doing main development, will take 1-2 weeks off to prototype and come up with ideas

    30:00 – 35:00
    Details about Braid Design and the development/exploration process

    Talks about working on Braid in Thailand

    35:00 – 40:00
    Experimental Gameplay Workshop Discussion

    40:00 – 45:00

    Talks about some interesting games found at Experimental Gameplay Workshop…
    Rod Humble’s “The Marriage”

    Future of gaming

    45:00 – 50:00
    Production values vs. Gameplay

    Games as Expression

    50:00 – 55:00
    Social Gaming vs. Single-player gaming
    Opinions on Alternate Reality Gaming

    Talk about favorite games
    like..
    Counterstrike
    Everyday Shooter

    55:00 – 60:00
    Favorite games like…
    Gammas Bros

    Talks about the future of his game design…
    and some of the concepts behind his upcoming game

    60:00 – 65:00
    Talks about initial design process
    vs.
    current design process

    Last words for indie game developers out there…
    keep doing what you’re doing
    It would be nice to see indies that are doing it because they want to be independent

    Take care,
    Action